LAS VEGAS, Nev. --- UC Irvine men's soccer ended its brief win streak in heartbreaking fashion Sunday night in a 3-2 loss at UNLV in Johann Memorial Stadium.
ONE-HIT WONDER
UCI (2-5-1) didn't take long to get the scoring going as they put home a goal in the first 10 minutes for the third straight match.
Oscar Delgado lofted a corner to
Josh Kenworthy in the box whose header back out found
Ashish Chattha to rocket a one-time shot back on goal and in beating keeper to the near post for a 1-0 Anteater lead in the eighth minute.
Â
That shot stood as the only Anteater shot until the final minutes of the first half. Meanwhile, UNLV (4-3) applied their own offense with eight first-half shots with three saved by Anteater keeper,
Gordon Botterill, to preserve the one goal advantage.
DANGER ZONE
The lead stayed 1-0 early in the second half, but each side counted to try for the ever-important second goal. In the 66th minute, it came.
The 'Eaters held possession in the attacking third, and worked it up through a flick to
Ricardo Ibarra who charged the goal and fired once again finding space at the near post to lift UCI up to a 2-0 lead.
Â
Following the goal, Anteater keeper
Gordon Botterill was helped off with an injury as
Luke Pruter once again came on appearing in his third straight match looking to preserve the two-goal lead for the final 24 minutes.
The Rebels got to work with an impressive goal to cut into the lead in the 75th minute. A looping cross was placed perfectly near the right post that found a sliding forward to punch it home and make it a 2-1 game.
The match continued into the final minutes and the 'Eaters clinging to the 2-1 lead until UNLV received a lifeline in the form of a penalty in the 88th minute. A foul in the box put Jesus Partida to the spot, and he converted with Pruter guessing the wrong way to tie things at 2-2.
With time winding down in regulation, the Rebels did not let off the gas putting pressure on the Anteaters. A blocked shot ricocheted back out, and the service back into the mixer was headed along to Marco Gonzalez at the left post who slipped a ball between the charging Pruter's legs for a the game-winner with just 20 seconds left in regulation.
FINAL SCORE: UNLV 3, UC IRVINE 2
The loss ends a brief two-match win streak and three-match unbeaten streak for the Anteaters. Botterill stopped six shots before exiting and kept his scoreless streak intact at 266 minutes. Pruter added one save on the night as the 'Eaters were outshot, 25-4.Â
Ricardo Ibarra's goal was the second of his career, and he now has multiple points in consecutive matches. Chattha's goal is his first as an Anteater giving him three points in his last two matches. He also adds to his three goals and eight points he earned at San Francisco.
Four Anteaters added assists including
Kelvin Neumetzler and
Oscar Delgado, each earning points in their third straight matches,
Kwabena Boateng, with his first career assist, and
Josh Kenworthy registering his first career point.
NON-CONFERENCE FINALE
The 'Eaters have a chance to regroup with one last non-conference matchup before Big West play. UCI will head to No. 23 Stanford on Wednesday with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff broadcasted on Pac-12.com.
